Writing a serial

[beckyminor]

Hey ladies and gents,

I'm asking this question in every circle I can so that I can get the widest array of tips possible, and I would love it if you fine folks here at the Anomaly would weigh in on something.

Do any of you read or write serial fiction? I'm going to tackle a serialized story, which should be published monthly, and I am searching for advice on how one structures a great serial. My installments will most likely need to be short (like fewer than 2000 words, though I'm still firming up the details on that), and I want to make sure I keep my readers coming back for more.

So, what, in your opinion, is the best plan of attack for episodic writing? I'd love to hear your input.

Thanks a million,
Becky

[Christian Soldier]

Cliff hangers every month, and get the folks publishing it to publish a refresher or some such so that a person can download a central document and recall what was written earlier.

If I may ask, who's publishing your work?

[beckyminor]

The stories will be on www.digitaldragonmagazine.com, where I currently have the first story that inspired the serial up. I wrote a follow up story, which will publish in September, and from there, the editor asked if I would consider expanding the setting/characters into a serial. I've agreed to run with it, and am now just waiting on a revised contract so that I don't have to "sign again" for every month's submission.

Thanks, CS, for your ideas on some key elements. I'm just hoping that the recipe of two main characters who detest one another,the protag's appointment with greatness, and a cheeky silver dragon will mix together with enough compelling events to build a series of good episodes.

[Christian Soldier]

Sounds good to me. I'll be sure to check it out

[tonylavoie]

Becky, I know I weighed in elsewhere, but I figured I'd throw in a couple of other thoughts here.

Since you're dealing with small installments, you're probably definitely (like that? going to want to outline first, and I'd start by drafting a synopsis for the first two you've already done. This will give you a feel for how much action, etc. you can probably squeeze into each episode, and help keep the stories on the proper path.

You can also (and may want to, since you're probably going to be dealing with a whole lotta story segments here) provide your own synopsis at the start of each chapter. This, combined with T.W.'s links to the previous episodes, will help keep readers abreast of the storyline(s).

I might even put a teaser at the end of each bit - "Next episode: Flash and Vultan infiltrate Ming's castle, but will they free his prisoners or end up as prisoners themselves?"

Anyway, those were the thoughts I had. I am already awaiting the dragon rider's further adventures with eager anticipation!

[beckyminor]

Hey, thanks for the additional ideas, Tony. And if your really anticipating the next installment...feel free to go crit what I've got at CW at the moment! I've written another 1800 words, but I'm really wanting to make sure the pace I set from episode to episode is well thought out.

But you are right...I better be organized if I don't want to make an aimless mess of things.

[Jeff Gerke]

A few months back we had fun with the serialized version of The Personifid Invasion, a Marcher Lord Press novel.

That case was different, because the novel was already fully written.

I just had to go through and look every ~30 pages for a decent cliff-hanger to end each installment with.

Fun times.

Jeff

[beckyminor]

Aug 25, 2009 8:28:13 GMT -5 Jeff Gerke said:

A few months back we had fun with the serialized version of The Personifid Invasion, a Marcher Lord Press novel.

That case was different, because the novel was already fully written.

I just had to go through and look every ~30 pages for a decent cliff-hanger to end each installment with.

Fun times.

Jeff

Hey Jeff...does that exist somewhere as installments that I could get a hold of it to read/study? Although the process of develping it was difference, I'm sure that doesn't change what works.

[journeyman]

If someone else hasn't already mentioned this, you might want to take a look at Jules Verne's _Around the World in Eighty Days_ and _2000 Leagues under the Sea_. A lot of Verne's work was serialized. Publication dates can be found at jv.gilead.org.il/biblio/voyages.html. Also I believe that L. Frank Baum's work may have been serialized.

[beckyminor]

Thanks, journeyman...whatever examples I can look over can do nothing but help. I'm in the process now of trying to write through the end of the "season" (12 episodes), so a little inspirational reading would do me good.

[r2streu]

For the record: You're doing great! Absolutely loving the piece so far. Also, just to let you know, when we make the changes we'll be making, your story will become much eaiser to catch up with for the new reader. That's among the first things on my to-do list.

[beckyminor]

Hey, thanks so much for the words of encouragement, Randy! I did see this month that you put links to my previous installments in the "bio" area below the story. That's a great help.

[keananbrand]

I'm writing a serial for Ray Gun Revival -- my first attempt, also, at serial fiction -- and am currently writing Episode 11. All the above advice is good: keep the story moving, and don't tie it up too neatly every time. Some of my episodes have succeeded doing this better than others.

It's a fun ride, writing what is essentially a novel but being bound by each episode that came before the current episode. Because there was no novel extant from which to draw the material, the serial is being published as I write it. Scary? Maybe. But it pushes me forward, because I can't keep going back and fiddling with what's been written, and therefore I cannot become entangled in the editing vortex at the expense of telling the story.

So, I'm not sure there's much better advice than what everyone's already given: keep it moving, keep 'em guessing, and hang on for the ride.

[beckyminor]

Dec 7, 2009 13:27:39 GMT -5 keananbrand said:

It's a fun ride, writing what is essentially a novel but being bound by each episode that came before the current episode. Because there was no novel extant from which to draw the material, the serial is being published as I write it. Scary? Maybe. But it pushes me forward, because I can't keep going back and fiddling with what's been written, and therefore I cannot become entangled in the editing vortex at the expense of telling the story.

I totally agree that being published as one writes is quite scary at times! (I just realized that there was something I would have written in episode 5 so that it could carry over into episode 6, but it's too late now!)

It's definitely a different emotional/artistic experience to only be able to go forward, and not back!

[courageforever]

Yes, it is a lot like acting live and improv, I bet. If it is any consolation, some of the best fiction books (IMO) started as magazine serials. Edgar Rice Burroughs comes to mind first. To be honest, serialization will probably force you--due to having to keep your reader wanting more--to write like novelist should write all the time. Make the thing a page turner. Plant lots of questions in the reader's mind that have to be answered. Every sentence and paragraph is important, every word and syllable--all should drive the narrative forward. And when they get to the end, the reader should be both satisfied that the important questions were answered, but unsettled in that they want more of your writing. More of you. "It went too quick! It was good, but it flew! It was like a piece of chocolate cheese cake--filling, incredible to eat, but now I want more."